Please note: Due to late revisions, some text on this page differs from what appears in the printed version of the USC Catalogue. The changes appear below as highlighted text, with corresponding explanations appearing in the right margin.

Degree Requirements

Educational Program Objectives

The undergraduate programs in civil engineering have the following objectives:

(1) Professional Achievement

Graduates will be successful in their chosen field of engineering, compete effectively as problem-solvers in a world of technological change and become leaders in industry, academic or governmental institutions.

(2) Societal Impact

Graduates will make use of their knowledge of global and societal issues, environmental considerations and sustainability objectives to create a safe and healthy world.

(3) Organizational and Team-Building Skills

Graduates will use their organizational abilities, communication skills and strengths in collaborative teamwork to foster a productive and efficient work environment in the organizations with which they are associated.

(4) Professional Development

Graduates will uphold high ethical and professional standards, be active in professional engineering organizations, support the advancement of the practice of engineering and obtain professional licensure.

(5) Continuing Education

Graduates will engage in lifelong learning and be prepared to pursue graduate studies in engineering or other diverse fields such as business, law or medicine.

The Department of Civil Engineering must approve all curricula leading to a degree; please note this includes transfer credit and units for courses waived for subject credit only, which have been approved through the Degree Progress department.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (131 Unit Program)

The department offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Additionally, there are three possible areas of emphases within this civil engineering program major. These are building science, environmental engineering and structural engineering. An area of emphasis appears in parentheses after the primary major name on the transcript.

A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as for all courses taken within the Department of Civil Engineering. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 205, CE 225, CE 309 and CE 325. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

Construction Track

Select CE 480 as the capstone course and CE 482 as a required design kernel course. Replace CE 453 with CE 412. The civil engineering electives must be chosen from the following list: CE 460, CE 461 and CE 462.

Construction Track

Select CE 480 as the capstone course and CE 482 as a required design kernel course. Replace CE 453 with CE 412. CE 460 is a required elective. The other civil engineering elective must be chosen from the following list: CE 461, CE 462, CE 469 and CE 470.

Water Resources Track

Select CE 465 as the capstone course and select one of the following as a required design kernel course: CE 466 or CE 476. The civil engineering electives must be selected from the following list: CE 466, CE 476, CE 477 and CE 490.

The Department of Civil Engineering must approve all curricula leading to a degree; please note this includes transfer credit and units for courses waived for subject credit only, which have been approved through the Degree Progress department.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Emphasis in Structural Engineering

The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in structural engineering is 131 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as for all courses taken within civil engineering. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 205, CE 225, CE 309 and CE 325. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

***The civil engineering elective must be selected from the following courses: CE 409a, CE 478.

+The university allows engineering majors to replace the GE Category IV with a second course in Categories I, II or VI.

The Department of Civil Engineering must approve all curricula leading to a degree; please note this includes transfer credit and units for courses waived for subject credit only, which have been approved through the Degree Progress department.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Emphasis in Building Science

The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in building science is 136 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required in all courses taken at USC, as well as for all courses taken within civil engineering. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 205, CE 225, CE 309 and CE 325. See also the common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

***The School of Architecture requires a minimum grade of C in ARCH 205ab, ARCH 305ab and ARCH 405ab in order to continue in the building science design sequence.

****The civil engineering elective must be selected from the following courses: CE 451, CE 453, CE 460, and CE 471.

+The university allows engineering majors to replace the GE Category IV with a second course in Categories I, II or VI.

The Department of Civil Engineering must approve all curricula leading to a degree; please note this includes transfer credit and units for courses waived for subject credit only, which have been approved through the Degree Progress department.

Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Emphasis in Environmental Engineering

The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in environmental engineering is 130 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as for all courses taken within civil engineering. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 205, CE 225, CE 309 and CE 325. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

+The university allows engineering majors to replace the GE Category IV with a second course in Categories I, II or VI.

The Department of Civil Engineering must approve all curricula leading to a degree; please note this includes transfer credit and units for courses waived for subject credit only, which have been approved through the Degree Progress department.

The degree has two tracks: Track 1: Environmental Systems and Processes (132 units); Track II: Environmental Biotechnology (134 units). A cumulative scholarship average of C (2.0) is required for all courses taken at USC as well as for all courses taken civil engineering. In addition, a minimum grade of C must be earned in each of the following courses: CE 205 and CE 309 or ENE 410. See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees section.

Minor in Environmental Engineering

Minor in Construction Planning and Management

This program covers the most current theories and practice of construction planning and management. The program provides a valuable adjunct credential to professional school students pursuing careers in business administration, public administration, architecture, environmental studies, and other areas; and a unique opportunity for professional focus to students in the USC College.

Construction activities are complex. In contemporary society, effective planning and management of these activities requires specialized knowledge of the technical, economic and policy environment. This program couples the knowledge of how construction activities are organized with a broader understanding of the urban system in which construction projects are embedded. With the exception of statistics, all of the required courses are within the Department of Civil Engineering and the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

Any USC undergraduate who has completed the equivalent of two full-time semesters in good standing is eligible to pursue the minor program. This minor program is rigorous enough to serve as an introductory credential for students subsequently electing to pursue advanced studies in development, urban planning, construction management, architecture or allied fields.

Courses required

Seven courses consisting of at least 23 units are required for the minor.

Statistics

Students must complete an advisor approved course in statistics. Candidate courses include ECON 317, EE 364, ISE 220, MATH 208, PPD 404x, PSYC 274, SOCI 314 and similar courses. The statistics course must be at least three units.

Core Courses

Units

CE 460

Construction Engineering

3

CE 461

General Construction Estimating

3

CE 462

Construction Methods and Equipment, or

CE 469

Sustainability, or

CE 470

Building Information Modeling and Integrated Practice

3

Theme Requirement: Two courses, both from Theme 1 or Theme 2 or Theme 3

Theme 1

PPD 358

Urban and Regional Economics

4

PPD 362

Real Estate Fundamentals for Planning and Development

4

Theme 2

FBE 400x

Introduction to Real Estate Finance and Development

4

FBE 466

Management of Real Estate Development: Feasibility Studies

4

Theme 3

PPD 357

Government and Business

4

PPD 435

Analyzing Real Estate Markets for Planning and Development

4

17

electives (select one)

Units

CE 404

Business and Intellectual Property Law for Engineers

3

CE 412

Contracts and Specifications

3

PPD 437

Advanced Finance and Investment for Planning and Development

4

Advisement is provided by the Department of Civil Engineering. Students will normally complete statistics before enrolling in CE 461 but can be permitted to complete statistics as a corequisite subject to advisor approval. Students are advised to take CE 460 and CE 461 before taking CE 462. Students electing PPD 437 must have completed PPD 358.

Minor in Engineering Technology Commercialization

Master of Science in Civil Engineering

These programs will be dropped beginning summer 2010.

The Master of Science in civil engineering is awarded in strict conformity with the general requirements of the USC Viterbi School of Engineering. A student may receive the Master of Science in civil engineering with a special option by specializing in one of the following courses of study: construction engineering; geotechnical engineering; structural engineering; environmental engineering; and transportation engineering. Students specializing in the transportation option and completing a thesis must include in their program 4 units of CE 594ab.

A general Master of Science in civil engineering without special designation is also given. Students pursuing this program will choose between the following special options: general, earthquake engineering, structural mechanics, water resources or ocean and coastal engineering.

A student who wishes to pursue the Master of Science in civil engineering without special designation and who has an interest in public works may take a selected sequence of 12 units in the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development. For further information, see the Public Administration Professional Sequence section in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

Master of Science in Environmental Engineering

Students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science may work toward the Master of Science in environmental engineering. Students with degrees in fields other than engineering or science may be admitted on the recommendation of a program advisor and program director. Selection of courses will be determined through consultation with a program advisor to provide a maximum of training in the student’s area of interest in environmental problems.

This program will be dropped beginning summer 2010.

Master of Engineering in Environmental Quality Management

Environmental engineers with purely scientific and technological backgrounds are often excluded from certain high-level professional managerial positions in the manufacturing industry, public utilities or governmental agencies, although they are generally preferred for engineering, scientific and research positions. Their exclusion from these positions is often attributed to inadequate preparation in areas deemed important in recent years, including the following: project management, regulatory compliance, strategic and financial planning, decision making and human relations. Thus, effective and efficient management of modern environmental engineering projects requires broad technical knowledge and diverse skills in the above aspects. The Master of Engineering degree program in Environmental Quality Management intends to bridge the gap between the essentials of hard-core engineering and project management. The program is intended to provide the student with cutting edge instruction in the art and science of environmental management. It is also directed at teaching and training students how to integrate environmental considerations in the early planning of projects to improve environmental compatibility, reduce risks and incur financial savings in businesses and industries.

business administration and entrepreneurship/management and organization elective (choose one)

units

BAEP 451

The Management of New Enterprises

4

MOR 462

Management Consulting

4

Project Course

units

ENE 590

Directed Research

6

The approved project work will be a research activity designed for about 3-4 months during the summer period, performed by the student under the direction and supervision of a full-time faculty member. The work will involve the participation of leading professionals from the private industry and/or governmental agencies with whom the faculty member might maintain a professional relationship. The project will address an area of importance and primary interest to the industrial entity in question. It is believed that this type of partnership will be mutually beneficial to the graduating student, private industry and university faculty in generating a friendly and long-term professional relationship among them.

Master of Construction Management

Students possessing a bachelor’s degree and with sufficient training in capital management and statistics may pursue the Master of Construction Management. This is an interdisciplinary degree program offered jointly by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development. A single application is made to the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. The purpose of the Master of Construction Management program is to educate and train multidisciplinary professionals to understand and execute the broad array of technical and non-technical activities associated with construction management. The program provides special attention to the function of the constructor in real estate development. The core of the program is drawn from the MSCE program in construction engineering and management, and from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development’s Master of Real Estate Development program. The Master of Construction Management also includes courses from the Marshall School of Business.

Applicants to the program are expected to have completed undergraduate course work in engineering economy or business finance.

The minimum requirement for the Master of Construction Management degree is 33 units. At least three elective courses totaling at least 9 units are required for this degree. These may be taken from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, other engineering departments, the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, the USC School of Architecture, the USC Davis School of Gerontology, the USC Gould School of Law or the USC Marshall School of Business subject to advisor approval. Admission to some classes requires advanced prerequisites and is subject to availability and approval of the instructor.

General Requirements

Residence and Course Load

The normal time required for earning the Master of Construction Management is three semesters, including one summer semester beginning in June and continuing through the spring semester ending in May. Students are expected to participate in extracurricular activities associated with the Master of Construction Management program, including the speaker series and field trips. A candidate must complete the last four semester units of course work at USC.

Students who wish to take a leave of absence for a semester or longer must request it from the chairman of the Civil Engineering department in writing. Such leaves may be granted for up to one year.

For further information see the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development section on joint degree programs.

Master of Engineering in Structural Design

The Master of Engineering program emphasizes the design of engineered structural systems. The design of new structures and the upgrading of existing structures, for adverse loading conditions, requires additional studies which extend beyond the basic concepts stressed in an undergraduate program. Modern computational methods will be used to evaluate the functional demands on the designed system, and a comprehensive design project will be used to integrate the concepts presented during the course of study. The program is focused on the needs of students who are planning to enter professional practice and not continue for a more advanced degree and on the needs of practicing engineers who have been out of school for several years and who want to upgrade their engineering skills.

The course of study requires the successful completion of 30 semester units. It is designed to be completed in one year of study, including the design project which must be taken during the first seven-week summer session.

required courses

units

Structural Analysis (two courses, 6 units)

CE 459

Introduction to Structural Dynamics

3

CE 529a

Finite Element Analysis

3

CE 540

Limit Analysis of Structures

3

Structural Design (four courses, 12 units)

CE 528

Seismic Analysis and Design of Reinforced Concrete Bridges

3

CE 536

Structural Design for Dynamic Loads

3

CE 537

Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design

3

CE 538

Prestressed Concrete Design

3

CE 539

Advanced Steel Structures

3

Design Project (one course, 3 units)

CE 549

Building Design Project, or

CE 590

Directed Research

3

Elective Courses (three courses, 9 units)

CE 457

Reinforced Concrete Design

3

CE 458

Theory of Structures II

3

CE 478

Timber and Masonry Design

3

CE 480

Structural Systems Design

3

CE 482

Foundation Design

3

CE 488

Computer Applications in Structural Analysis and Design

3

CE 501

Functions of the Constructor

3

CE 525b

Engineering Analysis

3

CE 533

Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering

3

Engineer in Civil Engineering

Requirements for the Engineer in civil engineering are the same as set forth in the general requirements.

Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering (Environmental Engineering)

The Doctor of Philosophy with a major in civil engineering and the Doctor of Philosophy with a major in engineering (environmental engineering) are also offered. See general requirements for graduate degrees.

Graduate Certificate in Engineering Technology Commercialization

Graduate Certificate in Transportation Systems

The graduate certificate in Transportation Systems is an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of Civil Engineering. The certificate program allows students to specialize in transportation applications, while simultaneously receiving a degree in their home department. The certificate in transportation systems combines elements of transportation engineering with transportation policy, planning and project management. The program is especially appropriate for students intending to pursue careers as developers of transportation technologies, or as implementors of technologies within government agencies.

Students electing the certificate program apply to the Department of Civil Engineering. Course prerequisites for the program are:

(1) one course in statistics or uncertainty, equivalent to ISE 225, PPD 404x or CE 408;

(2) one course in engineering economy, equivalent to ISE 460;

(3) one course in microeconomics, equivalent to ECON 203; and

(4) one course in a contemporary high level programming language.

These prerequisites may be satisfied after enrollment in the certificate program by taking the indicated courses or their equivalent. Graduate students cannot receive credit for courses numbered below 400. Detailed admissions requirements are published by the Department of Civil Engineering.

The courses taken for the certificate may be applied later to the Master of Science in Civil Engineering, transportation option.

Qualified students holding a bachelor’s degree also have the option of enrolling in the certificate program without receiving a separate graduate degree.

The curriculum consists of five graduate courses for a total of 17 units.